Today, Hartford Books Examiner presents an eleventh volume of “bite-sized” book reviews.

An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette – The first Key West Food Critic Mystery introduces Hayley Snow, a transplant to Key West who finds her boyfriend in bed with her potential new boss.  Things go from bad to worse when “the other woman” is found dead and Hayley lands at the top of the suspect list.  The recipe for this tasty concoction includes a clever whodunit, quirky but likable characters, a smorgasbord of food, and an exotic setting – with a few recipes thrown in for good measure.  Expect to be sated and yet left hungry for more…

Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude and Attitude for a Polite Planet by Sara Hacala – Not only does certified etiquette and protocol consultant Sara Hacala explain how and why we’ve gone wrong as a society in terms of manners and conduct, but she offers 52 thoughtful and easy to implement suggestions as to how we can get back to polite.  Personal reflections, historical anecdotes and insightful quotes are included throughout and will keep readers amused and engaged.

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One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity by Debbie Macomber – Though Macomber is best known for her fiction, One Simple Act is a collection of true stories that showcase the transformative power of generosity – both for the giver and the recipient.  Whether taken from her own life or drawn from the experiences of family, friends and fans, the author offers wisdom and inspiration without being preachy.

Murder, She Wrote: The Fine Art of Murder by Jessica Fletcher Donald Bain – The thirty-sixth book in this enduring series finds our beloved amateur sleuth in Italy, where she has the misfortune of witnessing the killing of an off-duty policeman during an art theft.  Her return to Cabot Cove brings about an unexpected visitor and a compelling reason to hop a plane to Chicago, where she becomes embroiled in yet another mystery in which an old friend becomes the prime suspect.  The plot unfolds briskly, and the multiple locations add freshness to the familiar.  Fans of the show will be charmed by this latest entry, which does not disappoint…

iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life by Jane Velez-Mitchell – Emmy-award winning journalist Velez-Mitchell (host of Issues… on HLN) shares her personal struggle with alcohol addiction (and overconsumption) – a disease to which she was genetically predisposed – and how she eventually committed to achieving sobriety.  Warmth, wit and wisdom punctuate this poignant story of self-acceptance and empowerment – and her no-nonsense discourse on consumer addictions just might leave you questioning your own vices…

Scream Deconstructed: An Unauthorized Analysis by Scott Kessinger – Kessinger’s book is a cutting (ha!) behind-the-Screams look at everybody’s favorite scary movie franchise.  Unmask the meanings and motives behind each film along with the author, whose penetrating and insightful analysis just may cause you to rethink everything you thought you knew…

Weathercock by Melissa Crandall – Local author Crandall’s book defies the generalizations, however unjust, that often plague self-published books (and those who write them): it’s well-written, well-presented, and blissfully original.  Weathercock is the story of a mythological hero who, when called upon, is said to possess the ability to change the balance of power.  While it can be considered “fantasy” in the sense that it takes place in a world different than our own, the very real message is one of believing in ourselves – and in something greater… 

Now, HBE wants to know: What’s your recommended reading?  Sound off in the comments section below…